Fri. October 10, 2008
Chicago, IL -
After months of pressure from an anti-gay group, McDonald's has withdrawn from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).
The Mississippi-based American Family Association (AFA), a conservative Christian group, encouraged members to boycott McDonald's over the fast-food chain's association with the national gay business organization and supporting "the cultural war over homosexuality."
The economic impact of the AFA boycott remains unclear as McDonald's sales have continued to be strong, yet Oakbrook-based McDonald's Corp. has given up a director's seat and will stop sponsorship of the NGLCC.
McDonald's says that vice president of communications Richard Ellis' decision to step down from the business group was personal and based on his relocation to Canada, where he's accepted a new position with McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd.
Ellis, an openly gay man, sat on the Chamber's board and had donated $200,000 of his own money to the organization.
"Diversity and inclusion are integral components of our brand and our heritage," McDonald's said in a statement.
McDonald's officials also said the company has no plans to renew its membership in the NGLCC when it expires in December.
In a statement the NGLCC said it had not been notified by McDonalds "of any move not to renew our work together."
"The NGLCC does not lobby on the issue of same-sex marriage," it said.
"The NGLCC's number one legislative priority is access to quality and affordable healthcare for our business owning members. The mandate of the NGLCC is to foster strong businesses, and not to pursue individual political agendas."
NGLCC's corporate partners include IBM, Kodak, UBS, Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan, American Express and Schaumburg-based Motorla.
McDonald's has more than 31,000 restaurants and is the world's largest fast food chain.
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